Service Members, Veterans & Their Families

POCATELLO — The Idaho State Veterans Home-Pocatello has been recognized as a 2018 recipient of the Bronze Commitment to Quality Award for its commitment to improving the lives of residents through quality care. The distinction is the first of three progressive award levels through the National Quality Award Program, presented by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), the leading association for long-term and post-acute care. The program honors association members across the country that have demonstrated their dedication to improving quality of care for seniors and persons with disabilities.

“We are excited for the recognition gained in receiving the AHCA bronze award as we continue to push forward in our commitment to quality at the Idaho State Veterans Home – Pocatello,” said Josiah Dahlstrom, the Idaho State Veterans Home-Pocatello administrator. “To quote from our mission statement, ‘We are committed to the creation of a vibrant culture that will drive our efforts to influence the well-being of as many veterans as we have the ability to care for. We cannot be satisfied until we consistently exceed their expectations and as we follow their example, we know that one person can make a difference.’ We will continue to push for greater satisfaction and results and appreciate the efforts of our amazing staff and the residents we are honored to care for.”

The National Quality Award Program, established by AHCA/NCAL in 1996, is based on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which also serves as the foundation for the metric-based AHCA/NCAL Quality Initiative. The Baldrige framework helps organizations among different business sectors improve organizational effectiveness and achieve strategy-driven performance.

Tracy Schaner, deputy administrator of the Idaho Division of Veterans Services, said, “Each of our programs are committed to serving the agency’s mission and vision by providing superior care and services to our military veterans and their families. It’s rewarding to see our veterans homes recognized for their teams’ efforts in improving and delivering solutions for quality care. It speaks highly of how well our state veterans homes advance our mission of enriching the lives of America’s Heroes. The display of genuine compassion, hard work, diligent efforts, and teamwork seen by IDVS staff is unparalleled.”

The Award Program has three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Providers begin the quality improvement process at the Bronze level, where they develop an organizational profile with essential performance elements such as vision, mission statement and key strengths and challenges. Bronze applicants must also demonstrate their ability to implement a performance improvement system.

Trained Examiners review each Bronze application to determine if the center has met the demands of the criteria. Only five facilities, two of which were skilled nursing facilities, in the state of Idaho received recognition for the Bronze award. The two skilled nursing facilities to receive the award were the Idaho State Veterans Home-Pocatello and its sister facility the Idaho State Veterans Home-Lewiston. As a recipient of the Bronze Commitment to Quality Award, Idaho State Veterans Home-Pocatello may now move forward in developing approaches and achieving performance levels that meet the Silver Achievement in Quality Award criteria.

“I applaud Idaho State Veterans Home-Pocatello for taking this important step towards quality improvement,” said the AHCA/NCAL National Quality Award Board of Overseers Chair Alana Wolfe. “I encourage Idaho State Veterans Home-Pocatello to continue on its path to achieving superior outcomes.”

The awards will be presented during AHCA/NCAL’s 69th Annual Convention and Exposition in San Diego on Oct. 7 to 10.